Description

Rotor power.

Zipp's 202 has earned its reputation as a light climber's wheel that can also descend and roll the flats with ease. The Zipp 202 Firecrest Carbon Clincher Disc Brake Road Wheel is the natural evolution of the venerable 202, aligning with the current trend towards disc-equipped road, gravel, and cyclocross whips and delivering Zipp speed and durability alongside the power of disc braking systems.

The 202 Firecrest features Zipp's lowest profile rim with a 32mm depth for exceptional crosswind stability on exposed descents. A wide, 24.62mm brake track accommodates a variety of tire widths to match different racing styles and surface conditions and provides a solid platform on which to mount your favorite tire. Zipp's wind tunnel testing shows that the 202's 32mm U-shaped profile cuts through the air on flat ground as efficiently as most other 45-50mm rims, with the added advantage of a feathery light claimed weight of 1,530g to fly away when the road turns skyward. Rail the course with confidence that these wheels will hold pace with the deep-dished aero setups and climb away like a mountain goat when the moment calls.

The 202 also incorporates an updated version of Zipp's signature Aerodynamic Boundary Layer Control (ABLC). ABLC dimpling involves strategically placed and sized dimples spread across the rim surface to smooth airflow much like a golf ball. ABLC also boasts aerodynamic advantages at real-world yaw angles of 10 to 20 degrees, which compares favorably with many competitors whose minimum drag numbers at yaw angles of five to 10 degrees rarely occur outside of a wind tunnel. In less scientific terms, these wheels perform best in the windy conditions you'll actually encounter on the roads, not on paper.

At the center, Zipp uses its updated 77/177 hub set, which has improved stiffness and durability over its predecessor. With a new platform and graphics for 2016, these hubs boast increased bearing protection over the previous versions and are ready to roll without any pre-load adjustment. The rear hub is compatible with a separately sold XD driver body to allow for a wider cassette range — up to 10-42t if desired — and driver bodies can be swapped out without re-dishing the wheel. Each wheel includes a newly redesigned quick-release skewer with a widened handle for better leverage when installing the wheel and cleaner lines as it sits closer to the frame when closed.